Tester Secures Funding for Six Montana Irrigation Projects

The funding will come from his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced that the state of Montana will receive $330,000 for six irrigation projects as part of his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The funds will go toward modernizing and improving the climate resiliency of existing water infrastructure across the state.

Tester negotiated the IIJA and helped pass it into law last year, and he was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to support the bipartisan legislation.

“Water infrastructure is the backbone of Montana’s ag industry” said Tester. “Modernizing our irrigation systems is a critical step forward for our farmers and ranchers, who rely on water infrastructure to produce the first-rate food that feeds the world. I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure funding for these critical projects, which will support our rural economies while preserving the land we all rely on for generations to come.”

A list of the projects is below:

Fort Peck Tribes – Wolf Point Irrigation Project
IIJA Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Wolf Point Irrigation Project water delivery system.

Helena Valley Irrigation District
IIJA WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Helena Valley Irrigation District water delivery system.

Missoula Conservation District
IIJA WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Missoula Conservation District Irrigation District water delivery system.

Tongue & Yellowstone River Irrigation District
IIJA WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Tongue & Yellowstone River Irrigation District delivery system.

Wyota Irrigation Project
IIJA WFPO funding will be used to implement ag-water management methods to build towards climate resiliency. Funds are needed to modernize the Wyota Irrigation Project water delivery system.

Kinsey Irrigation District
IIJA WFPO funds will be used to perform a feasibility study on a proposed watershed project that would rehabilitate and modernize the Kinsey Irrigation District water delivery system located in the Lower Yellowstone River watershed.

Last month, Tester announced $85 million for the St. Mary’s Diversion and Headworks as a part of up to $100 million he secured for the Milk River Project through the IIJA. Tester worked across the aisle for months to negotiate his bipartisan package with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and the White House, and he was the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to vote for it. Tester’s law is projected to create more than 800,000 American jobs and lower costs for businesses by making targeted investments that will strengthen our nation without raising taxes on working families.

Tester secured significant wins for Montana in the legislation, including $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $42.45 billion for broadband deployment to low-connectivity areas across the country; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America.